When people visit our booth, they often assume Will has always been part of the business.
Not even close.
Will — my son — graduated from Oregon State University in 2021 with a BFA in Photography. He's actually a very talented photographer. His nature shots (especially birds) are incredible. I still hope that someday he'll find his way back to it.
Back in 2022, I had what I thought was a very reasonable idea.
I asked him if he wanted to earn some extra money by helping me with product photography. After all… professionally trained photographer, right?
His response?
“No thanks!”
Fair enough.
So I rethought my request…
The Start: Teaching Him the Basics
Instead of photography, I asked if he'd be interested in helping with production work. He's very creative, so I thought this might be a good fit for him, especially since he wasn't enjoying photography anymore.
He needed money, and I needed help — so I offered to teach him the basics of soldering.
Once he got the hang of it (very quickly), he started helping with:
- Ring shanks
- Head pins
- Ear wires
- Components
- Filing, sanding, finish work
All the “grunt work” that comes with handmade jewelry.
He agreed — and that's where it all started.
His First Sale (And A Turning Point)
The very first piece of jewelry Will ever made?
A sterling silver Byzantine chainmail necklace… not exactly a beginner project.
He made it, brought it to a holiday market, priced it accordingly… and it sold.
That moment changed everything.
Originally, the plan was simple: I'd pay him an hourly rate to help with production work.
But it didn't take long for Will to realize something:
He could make his own jewelry — and make a lot more money doing it.
From Helper to Headliner
What started as occasional help in 2022 quickly turned into something much bigger. Will wasn't just helping anymore — he was building his own line of high-end chains, pendants and statement rings.
The “bad news” (for me) was that I no longer had help making my pieces.
The good news?
We now had a true partnership — and a much more interesting booth. Our inventory is now 4–5 times larger (and a wider variety) than when I was working alone.
Two Very Different (and Complementary) Styles
One of the things that makes our booth work so well is that we each bring something different.
My work:
- Sea glass jewelry
- Earrings
- Stacking Rings
Other than my sea glass jewelry, my pieces are more everyday, wearable jewelry — great for gifts and easy to wear. My price points are lower than Will's, which works perfectly in a market setting. We truly have something for almost everyone who walks into our booth.
Will's Work:
- Statement rings
- High-end chains
- Higher-end gemstones
- Pacific Northwest gemstone jewelry
His jewelry tends to be more high-end, often using more expensive stones than my sea glass pieces.
So while my basic pieces keep things moving consistently throughout the day…
His pieces?
They can completely change the day in just a couple of sales.
We jokingly have a “sales contest” at every market — and some days, he doesn't sell much at all.
But then he'll sell a chain or an Oregon Sunstone piece — and suddenly he's ahead.
(And yes… most days, he usually wins.)
The Chains (Yes, Those Chains)
Will has become incredibly skilled at making sterling silver chains — both chain maille and chain link styles. (On more than one occasion, we've had fine jewelers stop in our booth and compliment his chain-making skills — which is a huge compliment!)
They rival anything you'd find at a fine jewelry store — but at a fraction of the price.
His handmade sterling silver chains are:
- Bright, clean, and beautifully finished
- Durable (each link is individually soldered)
- Completely handcrafted from basic sterling silver wire
They've become one of the most talked-about items in our booth.
Working Together (And Making It Work)
Will has a real love for gemstones and rocks, so he's taken over all of our gemstone jewelry.
He especially enjoys working with locally sourced PNW stones — and even goes out to collect his own Oregon Sunstones.
Meanwhile, I've been able to focus more on:
- Making more sea glass jewelry
- Developing new basic designs
- Keeping our gemstone stacking ring displays filled
We've naturally fallen into a rhythm that plays to both of our strengths.
Life in the Booth
If you've shopped with us in person, you've probably talked to Will.
He's engaging, knowledgeable, and genuinely enjoys connecting with customers — especially when talking about:
- How his pieces were made
- Where the materials come from
- The stories behind the stones (especially Oregon Sunstones)
At most weekend markets, he takes the lead on selling while I help with packaging, setup and teardown.
And having someone I trust completely in the booth? That's everything.
I am able to take entire weekends off to travel to visit family or do things with my husband — and I can trust that the booth will be well-managed. I never worry about him or our booth.
Behind The Scenes: Divide And Conquer
Like most small businesses, we split responsibilities where it makes sense.
Will:
- In-person sales
- Working the booth when I can't be there
- Post office runs
- High-end jewelry
- Production work on basics
Me:
- Website & Etsy (listings, updates, planning)
- Photography (still me, unfortunately 😒)
- Accounting
- Purchasing supplies
- Applying to markets and festivals
- Sea glass jewelry & everyday pieces
I'm more behind the scenes — he is definitely the face of our business.
And while online work is a lot of effort for a lower return, it gives us an important online presence and a place to send customers.
Bonus: We Travel Well Together
We've also learned that we travel really well together.
Long drives to art festivals, shared hotel rooms or VRBOs, working long days side-by-side — it all works.
We're both perfectly happy:
- Sitting quietly riding in the car for hours
- Listening to our own thing (audio books for him, podcasts or music for me)
- Not feeling the need to fill the silence
Which makes those long trips surprisingly enjoyable.
From “No Thanks” to Running the Show
Looking back, it's kind of funny how it all started — with a simple question and a quick “no.”
Now?
He's not just part of the business — he's a huge part of why it's grown the way it has.
And yes… he now makes more money at this than I do.
Not bad for someone who didn't want to take photos.
If you've met Will at one of our markets, you've seen his work firsthand. If not, you can explore our handmade sterling silver chains and PNW gemstone jewelry online — or come visit us in person and see what we've been working on.